Parliament Question: Relook at the procurement system of foodgrains

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2753 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17TFI MARCH, 2026 RELOOK AT THE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM OF FOODGRAINS 2753 SHRI PRAMOD TIWARI: Will the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution be pleased to state (a): whether there is a need for relook at the procurement system offoodgrains as a whole; (b): if so, the details thereof; (c) : whether there are a number of issues with regard to procurement, such as significant stockpiling and overproduction, monoculture, quality specification disputes, technical barriers, PDS leakages, transit losses etc.; and (d): if so, the steps proposed to be taken in this regard? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a)& (b): There is already a comprehensive and transparent system in place across the country for procurement of foodgrains. The procurement operation is a continuously evolving process and during the last few years, procurement processes under Minimum Support Price (MSP) have improved to ensure payment of MSP to farmer’s bank account directly instead of payment through Arthiya and linkage of Aadhaar and Land records with the State’s procurement portals ensuring the farmers directly get the benefits of the MSP purchase. (c) & (d): There have been no such issues reported. $8888